Spring-hinqe



(Mode1.)

D. G. STOVER.

SPRING HINGE. No. 391,433. Patented 001;. 23, 1888.

WITNESSES. IIVVEIVTOR,

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fl/s ATTORNEYS,

Ihvrrn STATES DANIEL G. STOVER, OF FREEPOBT, ILLINOIS.

SPRING HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,433, dated October23, 1888.

tModel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL O. S'rovnR, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-I-Iinges, of which the following is a description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a face view, and Fig.2 a rear view, of a spring-hinge containing my improvements. Fig. 3 is adetail view of the same when the spring is let down and exerting itstension on one leaf alone. Fig. 4is a detail view of the same in aposition intermediate between those shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the collar B, and Fig. 6 is a detail cross-sectionshowing the arrangement of the collar 13.

The object of my invention is to provide a spring-hinge which by asimple adjustment may be converted into asimple hinge withoutspringresistance to its opening or closing, and which can be as readilyreconverted into a springhinge again.

I have devised asimple device whereby the spring to which it is appliedcan be transformed to and from a simple hinge without unwinding thespring and without material, change in its tension.

My invention consists in attaching one end of the spring inaspring-hinge to a collar or ring provided with a projection or stophaving an inclined or cam surface, and which may be made to engageagainst either of theleaves of the hinge, as will be hereinafter moreparticularly described.

In the drawings, A A are the leaves of a hinge united by the ears a a inany appropriate manner. The usual coiled spring, 0, is inserted in thehinge,with one end, 0, hearing against one of the leaves A, and with theother end, 0, rigidly attached to the ring or collar B,n1ounted upon thepintle or pin running through the adjacent car a. The collar B isprovided with the cam-shaped projection or stop I), which projectssufficiently to bear upon its rear or vertical side against the rearedge of the leaf A, as shown in Fig. 3. The spring is inserted in thisposition under substantially the full tension required; but as both theprojection 11 at one end of the spring and the end 0 at the other end ofthe spring bear against the same leaf A the leaves may be opened andclosed, as in a simple hinge,

without any spring-resistan ce. The other leaf, A, however, is providedwith a notch or projection, a and the collar B with means for revolvingit. In the form illustrated in the drawings this is a hole, notch,orrecess, 1),

into which a nail or pin can be inserted to turn it.

NVhen it is desired to convert the hinge into a spring-hinge, it is onlynecessary to give the collar B a partial turn or revolution,when thenearn side of the projection b rides under the notch c", compressing thespring axially, as shown in Fig. 4, until the stop II has passed thestop a, when the axial tension of the spring brings the stops into.engagement, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The radial tension of the springhas thus been changed at its upper end from the leaf A to the leaf A, sothat the spring now bears equally against the opposite leaves,converting it into a spring-hinge. It is reconverted into a simple hingewithout spring-resistance by simply pressing the pro jection bdownward,-as shown in Fig. I, when it passes around again to a bearingagainst the rear edge of the leaf A, as shown in Fig. 3. It is obviouslyimmaterial whether theinclined or cam surface be on the stop I) or itscorresponding stop a. This inclined or cam surface upon the stopcontributes materially to the convenient working of the parts, and is animportant element in my invention.

The hinge described is of the simplest possible form, cheap inconstruction, and durable and effective in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a springe-hinge, the combination of the leaves with a coiled spring,one end of which is connected with one leaf and the other end of whichis attached to an adjustable collar mounted adjacent to one of the innerears of the hinge and provided with a cam-shaped stop bearingalternately against either of the leaves of the hinge, whereby theradial tension of the spring is applied wholly to one leaf of the hinge,or may be changed to apply equally against both leaves, and whereby suchchange in the adjustment is effected by the mere rotation of the collar,substantially as described.

DANIEL G. STOVER.

Witnesses:

HARRY BITNER, T. S. E. DIXON.

